The work of the Water Quality Standards and Planning Unit is made up of several different programs: Section 303(d) List and Water Quality Standards Program (WQS). The Water Quality Standards and 303(d) program are the foundation of the Clean Water Act. They provide the processes and tools to establish water quality goals for the Region's waters, assess the quality of those waters, identify areas needing special attention and develop and implement plans to remedy problems. Additionally, 303(d) can, and should, be a cornerstone for selecting priority geographic areas for State/EPA efforts.

The primary goals of the Water Quality Standards and Planning Unit are to ensure protective water quality standards and elevate EPA's role in TMDL development to one of ground breaking and innovation. More information on the major program areas of the Standards and Planning Unit can be obtained by clicking on the program titles below.